Refrigerating apparatus



March 8, 1949. w GlFFARD REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1946 1N1 EN TOR.

Kw rm: y Gar/nun H T T'ORNE j Patented Mar. 8, 1949 2,463,686 nnrmcma'rmo APPARATUS Whitney Giffard,

Na'sh-Kelvlnator Detroit, Mich, assignor to Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Maryland Application March 28, 1946, Serial No. 657,782

Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly, to refrigerators having a refrigerating element disposed in an improved manner to permit greater use of the space within the refrigerator cabinet.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of a refrigerator having a motor compressor unit positioned in a lower side corner of the cabinet in such a manner that maximum use can be made of the space within the cabinet. A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a refrigerator havin'ga short angularly inclined back wall to provide a generally triangular shaped mechanism compartment to permit utilizing the space forwardly and at the side of the mechanism compartment for the-storage of various articles of food.

Yet a still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a refrigerator having a mechanism compartment positioned in one corner of the cabinet to permit positioning a hinged angularly shaped food storage binforwardly of the mechanism compartment, and to permit positioning spaced shelves along side of the mechanism compartment to utilize the space within the cabinet in a more efficient manner than has heretofore been possible. 1

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, submitted for purposesof illustration only and not intended to define the scope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a refrigerator embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic view illustrating the refrigerating cycle embodied in the refrigerator.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herewith is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1. an

storage compartment outer shell I0 is formed of interconnected back, side, top and bottom walls l2, l4, l6 and I8, respectively, to provide an outer shell. An inner shell 20 spaced from theouter shell ill is provided with back, side, top and bottom walls22, Z4, 26 and 28, respectively. Suitable insulating material 30 is iriterposed between the inner and outer shells to d lay the transmission of heat tothe food storage compartment 32 formed by the inner shell 20 from the atmosphere surrounding the outer shell It.

The back walls IZ'and inner shells are angularly at as and 38 in Figs. 1 and 2, to provide a substantially triangular shaped mechanism compartment 38 positioned in the'lower lefthand rear corner of the cabinet, as viewed in Fig. 2. A motor compressor unit 40 is positioned in the mechanism compartment 38, and a spaced flue 62 is secured to the back wall l2 in alignment with the motor compressor flow of convection air currents up through the flue $2 to assist in dissipating heat from the motor compressor unit 40 positioned in the mechanism compartment 38.

The outer and inner shells l0 and 20 are connected at the front of the cabinet by a contoured strip M, preferably forrned of non-conducting material, such, for example, as a plastic, to retard the flow of heat from the outer shell Ill to the inner shell all and the food storage compartment 32 positioned therein. An access door 46 is arranged to close the front of the food storage compartment 32. Spaced shelves are positioned in the food storage compartment 32 and are slightly spaced from the back wall 22,,as illustrated at 56, to permit a'flow of convection air currents between the shelves to maintain substantially uniform temperature and humidity conditions throughout the food storage compartment 32 A food storage bin 58 hinged, as, for example, at the front of the cabinet, as illustrated at 58, is provided in the lower left hand corner of the food storage compartment 32. 56 is provided with an angularly inclined back wall 58 contoured in substantial alignment with the angularly disposedsurface 36 of the-inner shell 20 to insure maximum use of the irregularly shaped space in the lower portion of the food forwardly of the, angularly 22 of the outer and inclined walls forming the ment 38. A shelf 60 having suitable perforations 62 therein extending tioned in the right hand portion of the cabinet inclined, as illustrated unit 60 to induce a.

The food storage bin mechanism compartfrom front to rear is posi-,

- spirit of the invention or appended claims.

storage compartment, a

Fig, 1. Refrigerant condenser passages 86,

preferably bonded to the inner surface of the outer walls of the shell in are provided to utilize the surface of the outer shell III as a'heat dissipating member to extract heat from the gaseous refrigerant while it is subject to pressure to reconvert it to the liquid form.

. Referring now to Fig. 3, wherein refrigerating cycle is illustrated diagrammatically, it will be positioned in the food storage compartment to a provide therein an ice freezing chamber, the outer and inner shells being contoured anguiarly to providea generally triangular shaped mechanism compartment positioned at one side of the cabinet adjacent its bottom, a motor compressor unit posltionedin the mechanism compartment,

. a food storage binof generally triangular shape noted that gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from spaced headers 10 of the refrigerant evaporator 64 through a conduit 12 by suction exerted by the motor compressor unit .40. The motor compressor unit subjects the-gaseous refrigerant from the refrigerant evaporator 64 t pressure, and discharges it into the refrigerant condenser tube 66 bonded in heat exchange relation to the inner surfaces'of the walls defining the outer shell l0. As heat is dissipated from the compressed gaseous refrigerant, it is converted to the liquid form and after passing through a strainer 14 is admitted through a capillary tube 16 to the refrigerant evaporator 84. The refrigerating cycle is then repeated.

The air coming in contact with the exposed surface of the evaporator 64 is cooled and settles into thefood storage compartment 32 to maintain low temperatures therein with relatively high humidity conditions to provide ideal conditions for the storage and preservation of foodstuffs.

It will be apparent that I have provided an economical refrigerator, particularly for light weight domestic use that can be manufactured economically to fulfill a demand for a low priced unit, thereby making refrigeration available to many who have heretofore been denied it because of the price required to purchase the more expensive units heretofore available.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in'the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the from the scope of the I claim:

1. A domestic refrigerator comprising a cabinet having spaced cuter and inner shells, insu lating material between the shells, the outer and inner shells being contoured on one side of the cabinet adjacent the bottom to provide a generally triangular shaped mechanism compartment in one rear corner of the cabinet, a storage container in said cabinet immediately forwardly of said mechanism compartment, a motor compressor unit positioned in the mechanism compartment, refrigerant condenser tubes bonded to the inner surface of the walls of the outer shell in heat exchange relation therewith, a refrigerant evaporator positioned within the inner shell, connecting means between the refrigerant condenser and the evaporator, and connecting means between the motor compressor unit andthe refrigerant evaporator and condenser members.

2. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having spaced outer and inner shells defining a food refrigerant evaporator hinged adjacent the bottom of the cabinet immediately in advance of the mechanism compartment to utilize the space within the food storage compartment immediately forwardly of the mechanism compartment, and a shelf positioned adjacent and laterally of the food storage bin and mechanism compartment for thereception of foodstuffs within the food storage compartmerit.

3. A refrigerator comprising inner and outer metal shells deflmng a food storage compartment, a refrigerant evaporator positioned in the food storage compartment to define therein an ice freezing chamber, ,a plurality of vertically spaced shelves in the food storage compartment, each shelf being spaced from theinner shell'to provide air circulation throughout the food storage compartment and around the refrigerant evaporator, a generally triangular shaped mechanism compartment positioned adjacent one side of the food storage compartment at the bottom thereof,

a motor compressor unit positioned in the mech- I, anism compartment, a refrigerant condenser bonded in heat exchange relation with the inner surface of the outer casing to utilize the outer shell as a refrigerant condenser, a food storage bin hinged adjacent the bottom of the food storage compartment forwardly of the mechanism compartment and having an angularly inclined back wall generally conforming to the contour of the mechanism compartment, and a shelf positioned adjacent the mechanism compartment and food storage bin to receive foodstuffs 4. A domestic refrigerator comprising an outer metallic casing having refrigerant condenser passages bonded to its inner surface to utilize the outer shell as a refrigerant condenser, an inner shell spaced from the outer shell and defining a food storage compartment, insulating material interposed between the outer and inner shells, a generally triangular shaped mechanism compartment positioned adjacent the bottom of the food storage compartment adjacent'one side thereof, a food storage bin having an angularly related back wall aligned with the angularly related wall of the mechanism compartment, a refrigerant evaporator positioned adjacent the top of the food storage compartment to define anice freezing compartment therein, a plurality of spaced shelves positioned in the food storage compartment and spaced from the inner shell to permit a circulation of air throughout the food storage compartment to distribute cold air from the refrigerant evaporator throughout the food storage compartment.

5. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet having inner and outer shells defining a food storage compartment, a generally triangular shaped mechanism compartment positioned in a lower corner of the food storage compartment, a motor compressor unit in the mechanism compartment, a refrigerant evaporator in the food storage compartment, a plurality of vertically spaced shelves in the foodstorage compartment, said shelves being spaced from the walls of the inner shell to provide circulation of air throughout the food storage compartment. the lowermost of said shelves forming the top wall of a second compartment. a hinged food storage bin positioned forwardly of the mechanism compartment and having an anguiarly related back wall substantially aligned with the walls defining the mechanism compartment, and a shelf in @said second compartment laterally positioned with respect to said bin.

6. In a refrigerator a cabinet having a generally triangular shaped mechanism compartment positioned in a lower corner, a food storage compartment spaced from the outer shell, insulating material between the outer shell and the food storage compartment, a refrigerant condenser in heat exchange relation with the outer shell, a refrigerant evaporator positioned in the food storage compartment and defining an ice freezing chamber therein, a hinged food storage bin positioned in the food storage compartment in front of the mechanism compartment, and vertical spaced shelves positioned in the food storage compartment, said shelves being proportioned to permit circulation of air over the refrigerant evaporator and throughout the food storage compartment.

7. In a refrigerator a cabinet having inner and outer metal shells defining a food storage compartment, a refrigerant evaporator positioned in the food storage compartment to define an ice freezing compartment therein, a plurality of spaced shelves in the food storage compartment spaced from the inner shell to permit circulation of air throughout the food storage compartment and around the refrigerant evaporator, a generally triangular shaped mechanism compartment positioned at one side of the food storage compartment adjacent the bottom, a refrigerant condenser bonded in heat exchange relation with the inner surface of the outer casing to utilize the outer shell of the cabinet as a refrigerant condenser, and a food storage bin hinged adjacent the bottom of the food storage compartment forwardly of the mechanism compartment and having an angularly inclined back wall generally conforming to the contour of the mechanism compartment.

8. In a refrigerator, an outer'metallic'casing having refrigerant condenser passages bonded in heat exchange relation to its inner surface to utilize the outer shell as a refrigerant condenser. an inner shell spaced from the outer shell to define a food storage compartment, a generally triangular shaped mechanism compartment positioned at the bottom of the food storage compartment adjacent one side thereof, a food storage bin having an angularly related back wall aligned with the angularly related wall of the mechanism compartment, and a refrigerant evaporator positioned adjacent the top of the food storage compartment to define an ice-freezing compartment therein.

9. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a food storage compartment and having a second compartment adjacent thereto, a partitionseparating said compartments, a refrigerant evaporator arranged in heat absorbing relationship with said food storage compartment, a machine compartment in one rear corner of said cabinet formed in part by an inclined wall portion common to said secondcoxnpartment, a refrigerant condensing element in said machinery compartment operatively connected to said evaporator. a storage container in advance ofsaid wall portion in said second compartment, and a shelf in said second compartment laterally positioned with respect to said container and said machinery compartment.

10. In a refrigerator, a cabinet having a food storage compartment and having a second compartment adjacent thereto, a partition separating said compartments, a refrigerant evaporator arranged in heat absorbing relationship with said food storage compartment, a machine compartment in one rear corner of said cabinet formed in part by an inclined wall portion common to said second compartment, a refrigerant condensing element in said machinery compartment operatively connected to said evaporator. a storage container in advance of said wall portion in said second compartment, and a perforated shelf in said second compartment laterally positioned with respect to said container in said machinery compartment, said shelf also being spaced from the walls of said compartment for additional circulation of air throughout the compartment.

WHITNEY GIFFARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

